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BeyondBlue Hello! Read this if you're not sure how to get started
  • replies: 0

Welcome This section of the Beyond Blue Forums is for talking about our experiences with depression. There are lots of chats about how it makes us feel, what it’s like to live with depression and what has worked to help in these times. Thank you for ... View more

Welcome This section of the Beyond Blue Forums is for talking about our experiences with depression. There are lots of chats about how it makes us feel, what it’s like to live with depression and what has worked to help in these times. Thank you for coming this far, we know it can be really hard to take these steps if depression is in your life - we see you and think this is a great step. To get the most out of this space we have a few tips: Get involved. The Forums work best for you when you get active and post where you can. Now, we know that can be really hard, especially when you are experiencing depression. So, if you can post something supportive to someone else here, that would be an incredible start. Speak from the heart. This community wants to know how YOU feel and what has worked for YOU. We trust that you have something unique to say and we can’t wait to hear it. Check in. Lots of the discussions in this section of the Forums have been going for years and they are some of the richest conversations we have. Keep checking in to get new ideas and offer your support. We know it can be tough to start, but when you are ready we want to hear your thoughts. If you need some time to get to know the community, that's okay! Have a look around and see where you want to get involved. Thank you for being here! Beyond Blue

Jeriava How do I talk to my doctor?
  • replies: 9

I’ve been struggling with my life for the past 7-8 years but I finally made an appointment with a doctor. I feel really scared though because I don’t ever go to the doctor for anything, and I havent seen this doctor for so many years that I’m really ... View more

I’ve been struggling with my life for the past 7-8 years but I finally made an appointment with a doctor. I feel really scared though because I don’t ever go to the doctor for anything, and I havent seen this doctor for so many years that I’m really scared that they’ll judge me or won’t believe anything I say. I’m really anti social so I feel like I won’t be able to say what I wanna say or I’ll say the wrong thing causing them to just dismiss me and move me along without helping. I’m just tired of feeling alone, depressed and just worthless but I’m really scared to talk to them.

AGrace SELF HELP TIPS FOR MANAGING DEPRESSION
  • replies: 132

Hi Everyone, Here are some ideas you might like to try for managing symptoms of depression. Of course everyone's different, so let us know what works for you, and please feel free to add to the list... Mindfulness – through breathing or engaging the ... View more

Hi Everyone, Here are some ideas you might like to try for managing symptoms of depression. Of course everyone's different, so let us know what works for you, and please feel free to add to the list... Mindfulness – through breathing or engaging the 5 senses Distress Tolerance – Accepting Emotions and Self Soothing Distraction – Put the thoughts/feelings aside and come back to them when you are ready to deal with them Positive Affirmations – Have some affirmations written down repeat them to yourself daily Sleep/Exercise/Diet – All 3 aspects of our lifestyle can impact the way we think/feel Increasing Pleasurable Activities – Engage in at least one pleasurable activity per day

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stressedcrayon Just writing things out
  • replies: 1

Been about a year since my last post Think I brought up the possibility my mother was toxic or emotionally abusive to my then mental health gp and therapist. Now I just don't want to care about the past and feeling pain over it. After dropping out fo... View more

Been about a year since my last post Think I brought up the possibility my mother was toxic or emotionally abusive to my then mental health gp and therapist. Now I just don't want to care about the past and feeling pain over it. After dropping out for the second time I eventually got a job. It was that or school and considering I just dropped out... Been working there since Nov. Already kind of dislike it... swear it makes my mental health worse and not sure if it's burnout or just depression. While I was still in my course I applied for uni and got into one. I knew I wasn't ready and wanted to do a term or year in what was pretty much another yr 12 eqv. Of course mother didn't like that. I was struggling mentally still and deferred before having to pay fees. Turned 18... yay. Didn't see therapist or the new gp for a bit and just worked. Eventually saw them, had a bad experience with the new gp. Told my therapist I'm not sure of therapy was working because of me. Worked until I decided to enroll in that same yr 12 eqv again. Now how I am exhausted, feeling burnout and whatever else I'm feeling. Writing this while I should be on online class. Most likely about to drop out again... Haven't see my therapist in awhile because I can't bring myself to make a stupid phone call. I wish things were different... that I didn't struggle with school my whole life or actually got the help I needed regarding school Asking myself what's the point To work until I can afford to retire To try to study only to fail and drop out I'll be moving out by the end of the year and will try to rent a room or apartment whatever is cheaper that I can get. I'll go low contact with my parents. Hope my mental health won't end me homeless and I'll be able to work enough to pay for essentials. I have somewhat friends I might be able to rent with. Most have their own issues and I'm really only in one's life. She has offered for me to live there but I don't know how I'll deal with three people and heaps of animals and for the sake that I seem to have certain issues, it'll be a hindrance as they have their own issues to deal with. Also interesting since last year I've been questioning if I have different disorders which I kind of concluded might be health anxiety with mental illness as a main focus or something, I don't know. Guess that's it.

Redblue05 Hey peeps, I'm new. I dunno what I'm doing here. I guess I just want someone to talk to.
  • replies: 14

Anyone feel like they have had so many best friends in the past years but you are no one's best friend? You value and love people so much and you are always the outsider. I just want a connection. Someone who knows everything about me, and loves me u... View more

Anyone feel like they have had so many best friends in the past years but you are no one's best friend? You value and love people so much and you are always the outsider. I just want a connection. Someone who knows everything about me, and loves me unconditionally. But at the same time people are so much effort and I just want to be alone and watch the stars and listen to sad music. Please help me, I'm so lonely. I think I'm fading, each day gets worse and worse until I can't function. Sorry

Foxxxy Lack of energy
  • replies: 3

for the past few weeks, all of a sudden ive been feeling so tired non stop that i dont want to get out of bed, im a gamer and gamed all my life and i dont even want to get out of bed to do that, im always feeling tight in my head and neck/shoulders a... View more

for the past few weeks, all of a sudden ive been feeling so tired non stop that i dont want to get out of bed, im a gamer and gamed all my life and i dont even want to get out of bed to do that, im always feeling tight in my head and neck/shoulders and my eyes feel baggy, whenever i do get out of bed, i feel like closing my eyes will make me instantly sleep, im sleeping way too much, like 12/15 hrs a day/night and my sleeping is spiratic and out of nowhere. Just nonstop tiredness and fatigue, dizziness and tightness, feeling helpless and feeling like this is it, this is what its gonna be like forever. Ive been taking medication for anxiety for nearly 10 years, wondering if this is symptoms of depression and if i should get it checked...

MissJ94 Had enough!
  • replies: 4

How does everyone cope with all thats going on?? Im now fully vaccinated, do my 3rd daily swabs and now they want me to get a permit to go to work! Im just so over it! I feel like im living in a jail! Or North Korea! Going to need a permit to scratch... View more

How does everyone cope with all thats going on?? Im now fully vaccinated, do my 3rd daily swabs and now they want me to get a permit to go to work! Im just so over it! I feel like im living in a jail! Or North Korea! Going to need a permit to scratch my bum soon Work really isnt worth it to even get the permit! Why should i turn up when they havent done anything to benefit or help me?! They hear my complaint of harassment and do nothing about it! Im already terrified of going to work there because that person who harassed me is still there, why should i even go! Why should i make things easy for them! I was supposed to get my covid swab today(friday) but just couldnt gather the energy to make the 2 min drive to my local testing clinic. My energy levels are usually pretty low to be honestly but the last few days its been so severe i cant even get the energy to make myself lunch. Ill wake up, go down stairs, have something small to eat and then sit on the lounge all day until its dinner time. Even then i struggle to get up. Just feel like everything is falling apart. Hating work, dont want to go back there ever. Supposed to be back there on sunday but still thinking of a reasonable excuse to call in sick again(i already called in sick for my most recent 2 shifts). Really struggling with how depressed im feeling this time..

Law_boy Unsure if this girl I am dating/seeing is depressed.
  • replies: 2

Hi guys, I’ve been dating this girl for the last 2-3 months and things have been great between us. A little background on her, she’s 18 and finds it really difficult to express emotions and really say what she’s feeling. She rarely talks about her pr... View more

Hi guys, I’ve been dating this girl for the last 2-3 months and things have been great between us. A little background on her, she’s 18 and finds it really difficult to express emotions and really say what she’s feeling. She rarely talks about her problems to people and prefers to just handle it herself because she doesn’t want to burden others. Yet she’s done this with me on multiple occasions. Things were great until our state went into lockdown. We used to text/call daily and this quickly became less frequent, going from every few hours to every few days. Eventually, I told her we had to talk because I was just unsure about everything and we had a long conversation last Saturday over the phone. We spoke from 9:30pm - 6am and she told me a lot about what’s been going on. She said this year she “emotionally shut down” because of things that happened to her the previous years. She said she gets in these “moods” where she doesn’t want to talk to anyone and doesn’t care that she’s doing it. She isolates herself in her room, blocks out any sunlight and just reads books all day. She only leaves her room for food or to go to the bathroom and has no interest in leaving the house. When this happens she feels “numb” and to her this is normal. She also expressed that no matter how much she likes me, she can’t be with me for this reason. Saying when she gets like this she wouldn’t care that she’s not talking to me and how that may impact me and she can go like this for days/weeks/months and it wouldn’t be fair on me. We discussed a lot of things that night and I was telling her about when I realised I was in love with her. I then asked her the same question and she said she realised she was in love with me during one of our first dates. At this point I’m just confused, I haven’t heard from her in a week. I have a feeling she might be depressed from the social isolation and apathetic outlook, so I have been sending her messages daily just checking in and letting her know I’m her for her. However, I know she’s been active on social media and is most likely ignoring my messages so I’ve since stopped because it’s just making me miserable. I called her the following Monday and she declined the call after one ring. So yeah, I don’t know if this is the right place to post this. I guess I’m just looking for some opinions/advice on the situation. Is this her depression talking? Or her way of telling me to take a hint? I have no clue. I appreciate any help!

Kram21 First time to reach out in a long time
  • replies: 31

Im a 52 year old male that suffers chronic pain and depression for many years. It has cost me most of my "friends" my wife and I see no way out.Last month or so I have been falling back down the dark hole and I can see no end in site.I have lost 2 fr... View more

Im a 52 year old male that suffers chronic pain and depression for many years. It has cost me most of my "friends" my wife and I see no way out.Last month or so I have been falling back down the dark hole and I can see no end in site.I have lost 2 friends ( in Thailand ) due to covid and many more there are suffering the economic effect of it. Yes they are worse off than me and I guess I feel guilty of just being a sook. I have battled depression for over 15 years and most of the time I manage to keep it fairly normal. Last month I have been loosing control of it and I dont know how to stop it. Now some days I dont even get out of bed ( apart to go to toilet and get water ) My body hurts I sleep a LOT and find pleasure in nothing. I dont want to end up the suicidal train wreck I was years ago as I dont think I have the strength to go through that again. Times are tough for everyone I know but I have no real trigger for this to happen to me now. Thanks for listening to the rant of a soon to be crazy mad man AHHA

imtrying_ I just feel like I can't do this anymore
  • replies: 4

I've never been diagnosed with depression but I feel so low all the time and I just don't know what to do. I hate something new about myself all the time, I'm unmotivated, I can't do anything. Recently school has just started getting way harder. And ... View more

I've never been diagnosed with depression but I feel so low all the time and I just don't know what to do. I hate something new about myself all the time, I'm unmotivated, I can't do anything. Recently school has just started getting way harder. And it's not like I can't do any of it, it's fully within my abilities to do what they're asking of me but I just... can't. I'm not even doing the bare minimum and it's still overwhelming. Today was supposed to be a 'catchup day', sort of like a day off, but I have so much work piling up that it's just a regular stressful day without any teams or zoom calls. I feel so inadequate all the time, I'm not smart, or skilled, or talented, or athletic or even good at interacting with people. And I hate discussing my emotions with my friends because I always feel so guilty. I mean, I have had a standard, happy life and I feel lower than garbage all the time. That's not fair to them, because they've all had actual problems in their lives. What right do I have to be depressed over nothing? I know it's fully in my control to fix things and help myself but I just feel like I can't and that it would be too hard to try. Basically, everything sucks but nothing actually sucks. I feel like a failure because I can't do what I'm supposed to, a liar because I'm not honest about how I feel, and a selfish idiot for feeling this way when I have no reason. And now I feel dumb for ranting on here being all woe is me about nothing. Which I know everyone will say is actually fine and that I'm allowed to reach out but like... idk. anyway. thanks for reading.

Nervybella Do you ever feel guilty for feeling low?? I know I do…
  • replies: 4

Hi friends so… lockdown. I’m getting sick of talking about it but honestly, it feels all consuming right now. For context, when I hear about the most recent Melbourne lockdown I went back to my parents place (I live alone and didn’t want to lockdown ... View more

Hi friends so… lockdown. I’m getting sick of talking about it but honestly, it feels all consuming right now. For context, when I hear about the most recent Melbourne lockdown I went back to my parents place (I live alone and didn’t want to lockdown by myself) so I had some human interaction while working from home. For the past week I just can’t shake this feeling of doom and gloom. I’m in such a low mood. I know so many people are feeling this way, but to make it more complicated, I have started to feel incredibly guilt for feeling this way because i have a safe home i have a job I have company in my family Then I see what’s happening in Afghanistan and I feel awful about myself for wallowing in my own shitty mood anyone Else feeling like this? -Bella

Here2Talk Taking time off work for mental health
  • replies: 2

Hi all wondering if anyone has ever been able to take time off work for depression /anxiety and how? Did you get penalised by your employer

Hi all wondering if anyone has ever been able to take time off work for depression /anxiety and how? Did you get penalised by your employer

Bev13 Is there no end?!?
  • replies: 2

Hi, Moved to country Vic a while ago to try a and find peace and contentment. Alas I’m still every place I go. No support no access to psychiatric help, all taken up with COVID problems. I’m 52 haven’t found anything to help yet....

Hi, Moved to country Vic a while ago to try a and find peace and contentment. Alas I’m still every place I go. No support no access to psychiatric help, all taken up with COVID problems. I’m 52 haven’t found anything to help yet....